One in 10 U.S. Kids Diagnosed With ADHD: Report

MONDAY, April 1 (HealthDay News) -- About 11 percent of
school-age children in the United States -- and 19 percent of
high-school-age boys -- have been diagnosed with
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.

The figures show that about 6.4 million children aged 4 to 17
have been diagnosed with ADHD at some point in their lives, a 16
percent rise since 2007 and a 53 percent increase over the past
decade,
The New York Timesreported Sunday.

Also, about two-thirds of kids with a current diagnosis of ADHD
take prescription drugs such as Adderall or Ritalin, which can
improve the lives of patients, but may also lead to addiction,
anxiety and even psychosis, the report said.

The data could add to growing concern among many doctors that
the ADHD diagnosis and its drug treatments are overused in American
children, according to
The Times.

For its story about ADHD rates, the newspaper analyzed raw data
from a wider CDC study of children's health issues. It included
more than 76,000 parents nationwide who were interviewed from
February 2011 to June 2012.

"Those are astronomical numbers. I'm floored," Dr. William Graf, a pediatric neurologist in New Haven, Conn., and a professor at the Yale School of Medicine, told The Times.

"Mild symptoms are being diagnosed so readily, which goes well beyond the disorder and beyond the zone of ambiguity to pure enhancement of children who are otherwise healthy," he added.

The data showed that 15 percent of school-age boys and 7 percent
of girls had received an ADHD diagnoses. Among teens aged 14 to 17,
about 19 percent of boys and 10 percent of girls had been diagnosed
with ADHD. About 10 percent of high school boys currently take ADHD
medications,
The Timesreported.

ADHD diagnosis rates in states vary widely. For example, about
23 percent of school-age boys in Southern states -- such as
Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, South Carolina and Tennessee -- were
diagnosed with ADHD, compared with fewer than 10 percent in
Colorado and Nevada.

Historically, ADHD has been estimated to affect 3 percent to 7
percent of children. There is no definitive test for the disorder.
Diagnosis is based on extensive interviews with children, parents
and teachers, and ruling out other causes,
The Timesreported.

"These data highlight the importance of obtaining an accurate diagnosis of ADHD in children, adolescents and adults with ADHD. The diagnosis of ADHD needs to be established through careful clinical interview -- there are no shortcuts," said Dr. Lenard Adler, a professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at the NYU School of Medicine.

The rising rates of ADHD diagnosis and medication use are due to
several factors, according to experts. Some doctors are too quick
to diagnose any complaints about inattention as ADHD, drug company
advertising emphasizes how medication can substantially improve a
child's life, and some parents pressure doctors to do something
about their children's bad behavior and poor grades.

"There's a tremendous push where if the kid's behavior is thought to be quote-unquote abnormal -- if they're not sitting quietly at their desk -- that's pathological, instead of just childhood," Dr. Jerome Groopman, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and the author of "How Doctors Think" told The Times.

For his part, Adler, who is also director of the adult ADHD
program at NYU Langone Medical Center, pointed out the importance
of treating actual ADHD.

"The consequences, if ADHD is present, but untreated in young adults, are significant in that the risk for substance abuse, cigarette smoking, motor vehicle accidents, divorce or separation and under-performance on the job or in school are substantially elevated," Adler said.

Appropriate treatment "can include medication and psychosocial
treatments, and should be established in careful cooperation of the
patient, family and physician," he added. "Stimulant medications
can be highly effective treatments with appropriate monitoring for
improvement of symptoms of ADHD and for potential side
effects."

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.